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Nicolas Atkin

The MMA gods, they giveth and they taketh.
It’s been a while since we lost a big UFC bout, be it down to weight cut issues or injury or a failed drugs test. It’s the last of those three that you would have expected to scupper next weekend’s monumental Madison Square Garden main event.
But that’s where we’re at. Nate Diaz tweeted an angry statement on Thursday night that Usada informed he that he tested for “elevated levels”, indicating a tainted supplement.
It looks like we won’t get to find out whether Diaz or Jorge Masvidal is the true “BMF” after all.


According to MMA journalist Chisanga Malata, Leon Edwards is in the frame to replace Diaz, though it’s not clear whether the US$50,000 “BMF” gimmick belt will still be on the line.
The fight makes sense – it plays into the backstage confrontation between “Rocky” and “Gamebred” after Masvidal’s win against Darren Till in March at UFC Fight Night 147.
Masvidal blasts Usada and says he’ll see Diaz at UFC 244
Edwards began talking trash from the sidelines while Masvidal was being interviewed. Masvidal walked straight up to Edwards and hit him with “the three piece and the soda”.
There’s a marketable storyline there with a nice bit of bad blood, and it makes sense rankings-wise – after beating Rafael dos Anjos in July, Edwards moved up to No 4 at welterweight behind Masvidal.
But this match-up can’t possibly make up for the loss of Diaz-Masvidal.

The 20,000-plus fans at Madison Square Garden will still be treated to a great card, with Till making his middleweight debut against contender Kelvin Gastelum, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson fighting Vicente Luque, Derrick Lewis facing Blagoy Ivanov and Kevin Lee up against Gregor Gillespie.
You’ve also got Corey Anderson and Johnny Walker going toe to toe, in a bout that could help determine light heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ next challenger (although Dominick Reyes will have a lot to say about that).
Still, the pay-per-view buys and tickets were sold on the promise of seeing this unique fight between Diaz and Masvidal that “took on a life of its own”, as UFC president Dana White put it.

It’s rare that a five-round, non-title fight headlines a UFC pay-per-view. It usually has to be a special bout – think Diaz versus Conor McGregor II in August 2016.
The fighting world was eagerly anticipating this one – even WWE legend and Hollywood royalty Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was going to present the belt to the winner.
You’d have to think McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s record 2.4 million pay-per-view buys from last October would have been under threat of being surpassed.

Now White and the UFC could be left watching the dollars disappear in front of their eyes, all thanks to a tainted supplement. It’s to Diaz’s credit that he refused to keep it quiet, which he alleged a Usada representative suggested he do.
Jon Jones tweeted his support for Diaz, claiming “I know you’re feeling someone is setting you up”. But unlike Jones, Diaz is fronting up.
“Until UFC, Usada or whoever is f****** with me fixes it, I won’t be competing,” Diaz wrote. “I’m not gonna play their game and try and hide it or keep quiet, as they suggested.

Been told the UFC have had a replacement on standby in case of injury or unforeseen circumstances scuppering Jorge Masvidal vs Nate Diaz.

That man is none other than Leon Edwards.

He’s been paid to be in training camp and is likely the front runner to replace Nate. #UFC244
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) October 24, 2019

“I’m not gonna have my name tainted as a cheater like these other [expletive] who keep quiet until after the fight just so that they can get paid. F****** cheaters.”
“I don’t give a s*** about some money over my dignity and my legacy. I’m not playing along with this b******,” he added. “Sincerely, the realest baddest mother [expletive] in the game.”
Strangely, Diaz might become the first fighter to actually enhance his reputation after pulling out of a fight because of a positive test.


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC 244: Leon Edwards in for Nate Diaz against Jorge Masvidal? Sorry guys, but that’s no ‘BMF’ fight

Nate Diaz poses after beating Anthony Pettis. Photo: Instagram

Jul 6, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Jorge Masvidal (red gloves) fights against Ben Askren (blue gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. Jorge Masvidal set a new record for the fastest knockout in UFC history with five seconds. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: Nate Diaz throws a punch at Anthony Pettis in the second round during their Welterweight Bout at UFC 241 at Honda Center on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: Nate Diaz and Anthony Pettis fight from the ground in the first round during their Welterweight Bout at UFC 241 at Honda Center on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Jorge Masvidal blasts Usada and says he’ll see Nate Diaz at UFC 244, then shuts down Kamaru Usman

Jorge Masvidal celebrates his knockout victory over Ben Askren. Photo: AP

Nate Diaz takes to Twitter to say he is not going to fight at UFC 244 in NYC.

UFC 244: Nate Diaz says he’s out of Jorge Masvidal fight because of ‘tainted supplements’ in angry Twitter post

According to Nate Diaz, he is not fighting this weekend at UFC 244. Photo: AFP

UFC 244: Nate Diaz gets Jon Jones’ support after positive test – ‘I know you feel set up’

Nate Diaz throws a punch at Anthony Pettis at UFC 241. Photo: AFP

Conor McGregor says he ‘designed’ BMF belt and Jorge Masvidal vs Nate Diaz winner on his radar

UFC fighter Conor McGregor leaves the Criminal Courts of Justice where he is appearing on an assault charge after allegedly punching a man at the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh on April 6 while promoting his brand of whisky. Photos: DPA

11 October 2019, Ireland, Dublin: UFC fighter Conor McGregor arrives at the Criminal Courts of Justice where he is appearing on an assault charge after allegedly punching a man at the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh 06 April whilst promoting his brand of whisky. Photo: Brian Lawson/PA Wire/dpa

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘Gamebred’ might get to give Edwards the ‘three piece and a soda’ again, and the fight makes sense rankings-wise
But hype was real for the ‘BMF’ bout and the disappointment can’t be glossed over



Jorge Masvidal might get to give Leon Edwards the ‘three piece and a soda’ again, and the fight makes sense rankings-wise, but the hype was real for the ‘BMF’ bout.


Nate Diaz

Jorge Masvidal

Dana White

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

The Takedown

The Takedown | UFC 244: Leon Edwards in for Nate Diaz against Jorge Masvidal? Sorry guys, but that’s no ‘BMF’ fight

‘Gamebred’ might get to give Edwards the ‘three piece and a soda’ again, and the fight makes sense rankings-wise But hype was real for the ‘BMF’ bout and the disappointment can’t be glossed over

‘Gamebred’ might get to give Edwards the ‘three piece and a soda’ again, and the fight makes sense rankings-wise

But hype was real for the ‘BMF’ bout and the disappointment can’t be glossed over